Card index system



July 9, 1940. 0 H. A. WARDY 2,207,501

CARD INDEX SYSTEM July 9, 1940. H. A. wARDY GARD INDEX SYSTEM 2Sheets-Sheet 2 llly Patented July 9, 1940 UNiTED STATES CARD INDEXSYSTEM'- Harry A. Wardy, Los Angeles, Calif., assigner t0 Add-A-Guide,Incorporated,l

Los Angeles,

Calif., a corporation of California. Application June 7, 1937, SerialNo. 146,884

14 Claims.

This invention relates to filing devices for papers, cards, etc. andrelates more particularly to devices oi the type generally known as cardindex systems. A general objectk of this invention is to provide a cardindex system that is simple, practical and inexpensive, and that is Veryeifective and convenient to use.

Another object of this invention is to provide a card index system ordevice in which the cards are normally arranged in compact groups orpacks to occupy a minimum of space and are arranged in such a mannerthat the identifying tabs of all of the cards of any pack or of all thepacks may be immediately made plainly visible by simple, rapid manualoperations.

Another object of this invention is to provide a cardv index device orsystemv of the character mentioned in which the cards may remain in theextended or raised positions where their tabs are plainly visible untildeliberatelyl dropped or moved to their normal positions, the cardsbeing freely accessible for removal", inspection, sorting, etc. when insaid position and being free so that they may be'removed and droppedindividually or collectively to assume positions where they areproperlylocated andrelated to be raised for a subsequent use.

' Another object of this invention is to provide a card index device orsystem of the character menand restored to their original positions atany time Without special manipulation and without the handling ormanipulating of any mechanical parts. The ling device of the presentinvention is. such thatthe papers or cards may be directly and easilyremoved from the file drawer or box.

individually or in groups, when the cards are in their normal, compactrelation or in the fanned out or raised positions where their tabs arevisible andl may be easily restored or returned to their originalpositions, the cards remaining in the raised positions untildeliberately dropped and those that are dropped returning to theircorrect original positions. This feature of the. device permitsA thewithdrawalof thecards at will, allows postings or: entriesA to. beconveniently made onthe (Cl. IRQ-16.1):

cards by hand, by typewriter, or the like, and a1- lows'th'e'replacementof worn cards, the removal of obsolete cards, and the easy insertion ofnew ory additionaly cards. In vmost of the so-called visible cardindexes heretofore introduced the cards rwere mechanically locked in theboxes or files or lockedJ in hinged folders or locked..

to oneanother insuch; a manner that they could Y not be r-emovedrwithout the manipulation ofv mechanicalj parts or without detachmentfrom one another, with the result that new entries on the cards hadtobe'made in longhand and usually with the writer in a difficult oruncomfortable position.

Another object of this invention is toprovide a card index device orsystem of the character ment'ioned-- in which the several cards of eachunit or pack may bezmade easily accessible with their tabs plainlyvisible whereby the cards of `each pack may be quickly sorted andhandled with a miniinumof` thumbing and following the necessary sorting,reference, or other operations, the packsy may be' easily collapsed orreturned to their original compact condition with the cards in theirproper sequence. Y

Another object of this' invention is to provide a card index device orsystem in which a mis-filed' v or incorrectlypositioned card isimmediately projected to a position above. the adjacentv cards orisdroppedto4 a positionbelow the adjacent cards when the pack of; cardsis expanded or fanned out for use, whereby'the incorrect position ofsuchv a card is immediately made evident.

A further object of this invention is to provide a card index: system ordevice of the character mentioned. that is suitable for use in drawers,`

boxes andl les ot variousA characters and in trays and boxes ofconventional ling systems which havebeen slightly'altered,. and thatembodies simple, inexpensive. holder units and card packsthat' may beremoved: fromior added to the system as occasion. arises.

The various objects and featuresof my invention. will` be fullyunderstood. from vthe following.v

detailed description'v of a typical preferred vform elf and:yapplication of. the invention, throughout.-

vertical detailed sectional View `taken as indicated by line 3-3 on Fig.1 showing some of the cards of the second to the foremost holder intheir elevated positions. Fig. 4 is an enlarged side elevation of one ofthe holders removed from the box with the cards removed and the liftingelement in its raised position. Fig. 5 is a reduced vertical detailedsectional view taken as indicated by line 5-5 on Fig. 4. Figs. 5a and 6are enlarged vertical fragmentary detailed sectional views taken asindicated by lines 5a--5aand 6 6, respectively, on Fig. 5. Figs. 'I and8 are enlarged fragmentary horizontal detailed sectional views taken asindicated by lines 'I-'I and 8 8, respectively on Fig. 5 and Fig. 9 is afront elevation of a pack of cards removed from its holder.

The features of the present invention'l may be embodied in card systemsand loose leaf systems for various purposes and the devices of` theinvention may be embodied in drawers, boxes, files, etc., of differenttypes, sizes and characters.V In the following detaileddescription IWill describe a typical embodiment of `the `invention for use in a moreor less conventional drawer or box, it being understood that theinvention is not to Abe construed as limited or restricted to thespecific form or application about to be described. b The card indexsystem or device of the present invention includes, generally, asuitable container` or box I0, a multiplicity of holders I I removablyretainedv in the box I0, a group or pack of cards C in each holder IIfree to be removed and replaced at will, and means I2 associated witheach holder II for Vprojecting the cards C therefrom to assume steppedor graduated positions where their identifying means are plainlyvisible.

In accordance with the broader aspects of the invention the container orbox I0 may be of any suitable type or construction. In the drawings Ihave shown a metal box I comprising a bottom I3, spaced sides I4, afront I5 and aback 9. The box I0 is rectangular and elongate and spacedlongitudinal ribs or ridges I6 extend along the box bottom I3 andproject upwardly in the box. The front I5 and back 9 are hinged at theirlower edges to the bottom I3 and are `adapted to` be swung between avertical position and an vopen or inclined position. The side walls orsides I4 of the box I0 are hollowv or double and atypical levermechanism I'I connects the box front I5 with the back 9 for asimultaneous movement whereby the manual lowering of the front I5effects a corresponding movement of the box back.

The invention provides guides `I8 in, the box I0 forxguiding and`centering thecards C. The guides` I8 are in the nature of elongatestrips or members secured to the inner surfaces of the box sides I4. Theinner surfaces of the box sides I4 are 'preferably inclined downwardlyand in,

Wardly and the guides I8 are secured to them some distance above the boxbottom I3 leaving relatively narrow grooves or slots I9. The inner sidesand tops of the guides IB are preferably bevelled or rounded, asillustrated. Screws `2U orother suitable securing `,members may attachthe guides I8 to the box sides I4. 'I'he guides I8 may be applied totypical le boxes, etc. to adapt them for the reception of the holders II and cards C of the invention.

The holders II are provided to contain the respective groups or packs ofcards Can such a manner that the cards of the adjacent packs do notbecome mixed. It is afeature of the invention that the holders .II aresimple, inexpensive, folder-likel elements. In Athe preferred form ofthe invention the folders I I are identical. Each holder I I comprises afront member 2I and a back member 22. The members 2I and 22 may beidentical in shape andconstruction to provide for economy ofmanufacture. The front and back members 2I and 22 of the holders II maybe formed of cardboard, ber board, Sheet metal, or the like. The members2I and 22 are generally rectangular and are proportioned to have theiropposite ends in spaced relation to the sides I4 of the box I0. Theupper corners of the members 2I and 22 are preferably rounded. Eachfolder II further includes a bottom 23 hinged to the lower edges of thefront and back members 2| and 22. The bottoms 23 of the holders II areflat strap-like members and are adapted to rest on the ribs I6 on thebottom of the box I0. The bottoms 23 may be formed of the same materialas the front and back members 2I and 22. Straps 2t of fabric, or thelike, may be glued or otherwise secured tothe lower edge portions of thefront andfback members` 2I and 22 and to the surfaces of the bottoms 23to hinge the members 2| Aand 22 to the bottoms. The hinge straps 24, maybe provided on both the internal and external surfaces of themembers 2Iand 22 and the bottoms 23. The front and back members 2l and 22 and the4bottoms 23 are cut away at their lower corners, as shown at 25, to haveproper clearance with the guides I8. The holders II may be proportionedto project above the upper end of the box I0 when their bottoms 23 reston the ribsA I6. It will be apparent hoW a plurality of the holders I Imay be arranged in the box Ill with the back andfrontmembers 2I and 22of, adjacent `holders arranged in adjacent relation or in engagement.When the box front I5 and the box back 9 are lowered the holders II havefreedom of movement in the box I0 so that any one folder or severalfolders may be easily opened ory manipulated.

The invention `provides novel and effective means for retaining the cardholders II in the box I9. These means comprise straps or strips 29arranged through the holders. II to engage downwardly against theirbottoms 23. The straps 29 may be formed of cardboard, sheet metal, fiberboard, or the like. The straps 29;,project beyond the opposite endsofthe holder bottoms 23 and their projecting end portions are received inthe slots I9. The engagement of the straps 29 with the grooves or slotsI9 limits or prevents upward movement of the holders II in the box I0.The holders may be easily inserted in the box III whereupon the straps29 may be sprung upwardly between their ends to permit the entrance oftheir end portions in the slots I9. The straps 29 may slide or shiftlongitudinally in the slots I9 to. permit movement of the holders II inthe boxIIl. When it is desired to remove a holder II` from the box I0the intermediate portion of the strap 29 may be flexed upwardly or bowedto sprngthe end portions of the straps out of the slots` I9 whereuponthe holder is free for removal.

The cards C are provided to carry `the entries or postings and, ofcourse, may be employed to` receive data of any character. The cards Care preferably lined or ruled and the entries or data may be written,printed, or typewritten upon them. In the preferred construction thecards C are substantially rectangularandare of substantially the samesize and shape as the front and back members 2| and 22 of the holdersII. Inaccordancewith .the invention each holder II asomo-1f is adaptedto receive or contain a pack of cards C. The cards C may rest' on thestraps 29 and their lower corners are rounded and adapted to cooperatewith the guides I8 inthe box I0. The engagement of the guides I8 andAthe lower corners of the cards C effectively centers or locates thecardsbetween the box sides I4.

Each pack of cards C as contained in a holder II includes a multiplicityof sub-packs or subgroups Si. Each sub-group S of cards C contains one'or more cards. In the particular form of the invention illustrated inthe drawings each of the sub-groups S embodies four cards C, it beingunderstood that the number of cards in each sub-group S may be varied.In accordance with the invention the cards C are provided with tabs orprojections 33 extending from their opposite vertical or side edges.-The projections y3Il areintegral with the cards and there is onevprojection 33- extending from each end of each card. The outer edges ofthe lateral projections 38 may be in substantially the same planes asthe ends of the holder members 2I and 22 assuming that the cards C arein the holders II and the projections 33 may all extend upwardly to theupper edges of the cards C. The lower edges or ends of the cardprojections constitute downwardly facing shoulders 3i engageable by thelifting means I2 as will be hereinafter described. 'Ihe several cards Cin a sub-group S have projections 33 which are different from those ofthe cards in the other sub-groups S in the pack. The shoulders 3l of thecards C of the several sub-groups S in a pack are stepped or graduated,that is, the shoulders 3| of the foremost sub-group S of a pack arestepped above the shoulders 3i of the second to the foremost subgroup Sand the said shoulders 3I of the second tol the foremost sub-group S arestepped above the shoulders 3i of the third to the foremost subgroup Sand so on. This downward stepping or graduation of the shoulders 3| isuniform or regular.

rI'he cards C are preferably provided with classifying or identifyingtabs 32. I'he tabs 32 may b-eintegral parts of the cards C and projectfrom the upper edges of the cards. Each card C preferably has one tab32. In accordance with the invention the cards C of each sub-group Shave tabs in different positions along the upper edge of' the sub-group,that is, the tabs 32 of rthe cards in a sub-group S are staggered oroffset along the upper edge of the sub-group to all be plainly visiblefrom the front of the subgroup. Thus in the form of the inventionillustrated where there are four cards C in each subgroup S there arefour fully visible tabs 32 arranged along the upper edge of thesub-group. The tabs may bear indicia or identifying 662 means of anydesired character and this may be written, printed, or typewritten uponthe tabs. The meansy I2 for lifting the cards C in the holders II tomake their tabs 32 plainly visible u is an important feature of theinvention. The 651' means I2 is such that the user may easily andquickly move the pack of cards C in any selected holder II to a positionwhere the tabs 32 of all the cards C of each sub-group S are plainlyvisible and the means serves to retain the cards in this extendedcondition indefinitely or until deliberately returned to their originalpositions by the user. In accordance with the invention a card liftingmeans I2 is associated with or provided` on each holder II and theseveral means 75.; i2. arer entirely independent whereby the cards C ofthedifferent holdersy II may be selectively raised. -v

Each means I2 includes a lifting member or lifting element 33 shiftablyconnected with the back member 22 of a holder II'. The lifting elements33- are preferably in the form of plates' or cards and may beconstructed of cardboard,

ber board, sheet metal, or the like. The lifting elements 33 arearrangedto shift vertically with respect to the back members 22 of the holdersl^I- and in the preferred construction illustrated the lifting elements`33 are arranged at the inner sides or forward sides of the members 22.lifting elements 33 are of substantially the same size and shape asv theback members 22 and if desired may be identical with the members 22. Themeans for associating the lifting elements 33 with the back members 22for vertical movement include clips 34A of metal or the like, secured tothe opposite edge portions of the lifting elements 33. The clips 34 arepreferably located adjacent the lower edges of the lifting elements 33and are preferably provided on the forward facesof the elements. Theclips 34 may be secured to the lifting elements 33 in any suitablemanner, for example, they may be riveted to the elements. Each clip 34lhas one or more guide hooks 35' engaging about the adjacent verticaledges of the elements 33 and the back members 22. The rear' formed ofmetal, or the like, and may be riveted to the back members. f The tabs36 have guide fingers 3l projecting forwardly at the edges of themembers 22 to have shiftable cooperation Thev with the edges-of thelifting elements 33. fingers 3l assist in guiding the elements 33 forverticalV movement and serve to prevent lateral' Theshifting or rockingof the lifting elements. guide fingers' 31 are engageable by the guidehooks 35 to limit or stop upward movement of the lifting elements 33relative to the back members 22.

'I'he cardraising means I2 further includes lifting ngers or hooks 38 onthe lifting elements 33 for cooperating with the shoulders 3| of thecards C when the lifting elements are raised. In.

The

SOY.

the preferred construction illustrated the lifting hooks 38 are integralwith the above described clips 34.l One hook' 38 projects forwardlyfrom',l

each clip 34. The hooks 38 are substantially horizontal and their lengthis equal' to or greater than the thickness of the packs of cards C inthe holders I IY and is substantially equal to the width of the bottoms23.

in the holders II from the cards that may remain supported on the hooks38. Webs or flanges 4I)a may be provided on theA under sides of theliftinghooks 38 to strengthenY the hooks.

Identifying or classifying tabs 401 arel provided! The hooks 3B havenoses or' outer parts 33 projecting upwardly at their outer on thelifting elements 33. Theztabs 40 preferably project from the upper edgesof the elements 33. In accordance with the invention the tabs 40 aresuch that they may be employed or grasped to facilitate the lifting ofthe elements 33. The tabs 4|) are preferably formed of metal or thelike, and are rigidly secured to the elements 33 by rivets or othersuitable securing means. Window openings 4|a are provided in the tabs 4Uand the tabs 40 are adapted to `contain cards 26 for bearing identifyingindicia. The cards 26 provided in the tabs 40 may bear alphabeticalcharacters or numerals, or both, to identify or classify the packs ofcards C in the respective holders The cards 26 in the tabs 40 may beprotected by transparent sheets or windows 2l extending across theopenings 4|a. The identifying cards are preferably removable from thetabs 40.

The tabs 40 may be grasped for the purpose of raising the liftingelements 33. When a card lifting element 33 is lifted in this mannerfrom its normal position the lifting hooks 38 successively come intolifting engagement with the card shoulders 3|. The guides |8 and theback member 22 of the adjacent holder center, locate and confine thecards to be properly engaged .by the hooks 38. Due to the graduated orstepped relation of the shoulders 3| of adjacent sub-groups S thelifting hooks 38 rst come'into cooperation 'with the shoulders 3| of therearmost sub-group S and then successively engage the shoulders 3| ofthe other sub-groups until they cooperate with the shoulders 3| of theforemost sub-groups S. Thus the rearmost sub-group S of cards C isllifted the greatest distance and. the extent of upward movement of thesub-groups S progressively becomes less so that the tabs 32 of theadjacent sub-groups S are stepped or graduated one above the otherwhereby the tabs 32 of all `of the cards C of all of the sub-groups Sare plainly visible from the front of the pack. The extent of verticalmovement of the lifting element 33 is such that the upper edges or tabs32 of all of the cards C in the holder are projected above the upperedge of the box I0. Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawings illustrate one of theelements 33 in its raised position and illustrate a portion of a pack ofcards in one holder extended in such a manner that their tabs 32 are allplainly 1 visible.

The card lifting means C2 further include structures or means forreleasably retaining the lifting elements 33 in their raised positionswhere the tabs 32 of the cards C in the respective holders are plainlyvisible, as described above. In the preferred construction illustratedin the drawings a latching or retaining clip 4| is secured to the rearside of each lifting element 33. The clips 4| may be formed of metal orthe like and may be secured to the elements 33 by rivets. The clips 4|are of substantial length and extend transversely or horizontally, asbest illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings. The lower edgeportions of the clips 4| are shaped or bent to have hook-like parts 42for cooperating with the `3'1 the lifting element 33 is flexed or sprungWhen a lifting element 33 is raised to its up` slightly to engage thehook part 42 over the lip 43 of the backmember 22. The hook part 42engaging the lip 43 is operable to retain the lifting element 33, andthe cards C raised thereby, in their up or raised positions. The hookpart 42 may be easily disengaged from the lip 43 by lifting upwardly onthe element 33 and exing the element to move the hook part out ofengagement with the lip. When the lifting elements 33 are in their downor normal positions the hook parts 42 engage against the forwardsurfaces of the back members 22 of the holders.

It is believed that the use or operation of the filing device or cardindex system of the present invention will be readily understood fromthe foregoing detailed description. Normally, or under normalconditions, the lifting elements 33 may be in their down positions wherethe cards C of the several holders rest upon the straps 29. When thecards C are in this condition they constitute compact groups orassemblies that occupy a minimum amount of space and that may besubstantially entirely received in the box l0. With the parts in theirnormal positions, as just described, the lifting and identifying tabs 40of the elements 33 are all plainly visible at the upper side of theassembly.

When it is desired to examine, remove or refer to the cards C in one ofthe holders the tab 40 of the lifting element 33 of that holder isgrasped and the element is lifted or pulled up- Wardly. A's describedabove, such lifting of an element 33 brings the lifting hooks 38 intoengagement with the shoulders 3| of the cards C. The shoulders 3| ofadjacent sub-groups S are stepped in such a manner that the hooks 38successively come into engagement with the shoul` ders of the adjacentsub-groups to successively raise the sub-groups of cards. The rearmostsub-group S is raised or projected the greatest distance and the extentof upward movement of the sub-group S decreases in a downward or forwardprogression. This raising of the several sub-groups S of cards bringsthe cards to the positions illustrated in Fig. 1 and in the righthandportion of Fig. 3 where the identifying tabs 32 of the adjacentsub-groups S are stepped one above the other, to be plainly visible fromthe front of the assembly. Where the tabs 32 of the sub-groups S arerelated as described above, the lifting of the element 33 brings thecards to positions where all of the tabs 32 of all of the cards in theholder are plainly visible. When the upward movement of the liftingelement 33 is stopped by the engagement of the clips 34 with the guidefingers 31 the element may automatically flex slightly to engage thehook part 42 over the lip 43 of the back member 22. This releasablylatches the lifting element 33 in the raised position where the cards Care farmed out or made visible, as described above.

It is to be understood that any one or all of the lifting elements 33may be manipulated or raised as described above, to raise the cards C`to the positions where their tabs 32 are all plainly visible. The strips29 cooperating with the slots |9 prevent unintentional or accidentalupward displacement of the entire holders from the box i0. With thecards of a holder held in the raised or exposed position illustrated inFigs. l and 2 of the drawings, the cards may be individually orcollectively removed from the holders. The cards C are entirely free orunattached and may be withdrawn from the holder or holders orindividually or collectively swung forward to expose the data onadjacentcards. The cards may be indiv'dually or collectively raised over thehook parts 39 as examined-or used, or for the purpose of exposing othercards, and then dropped into the holder to rest against the front member2| which may be inclined forwardly and upwardly. The cards C thusdropped fall into positions 4in the proper sequence and are definitelyseparated from the cards remaining in the elevated positions. Theidentifying orI classifying data on the card tabs 32 of coursefacilitates the restoration of the cards to their proper places. 'Thecards C are restored by merely droppingthem into the holder I I wherethe guides I 8 automatically center'them and the hi'nged bottom 23 and.the front member ZI confine them against falling or slipping. Thelifting hooks 38 engage against the shoulders 3| of the cards to supportthem in their elevated positions and when a card -C is restored to itspack its shoulders 3l are engaged againstthe hooks 38. ln the event thata card C is returned to its pack out of its proper place its shoulders3l en gage the hooks 38 and support the card in a position where itsupper portion and its tab 32 project above or below the tabs of theadjacent cards clearly indicating the incorrect restoration of the card.

Vlfhere the holders II `are arranged in a box of the characterillustrated in the drawings the holders may be inclined upwardly andrearwardly in such a manner that the tabs 32 of the elevated or fannedout cards C are fully exposed and plainly visible. Y With the holders l!in'this inclined position the cards C are centered and located by theguides I8, the hinged bottoms 29 and the front members 2l to be inposition for engagement by the hooks 3B without the necessity ofmanually Nhandling or straightening them. The lifting elements 33 of aplurality of holders II- or of all of the holders may be raised to bringthe cards C to their elevated positions where thelr tabs are fullyvisible. When the cards AC of all of the holders l! or of several of theholders ll are to be examined or used they may be manipulated or removedfrom the foremost holder l I and following their restoration to theholder the `said foremost holder may be tipped forwardly to lie againstthe front i5. This procedure may be repeated with the succeeding holdersII so that all of the cards Cof the several holders may be readily andrapidly handled.

When it is desired to return the pack of cards C of a holder I I totheir originalv compact condition the tab it of the lifting element 33is engaged to lift the element and tip or flex it for the purpose ofreleasing the hook part G2 from the lip 53. When this has been done thelifting element 33 may be dropped or moved downwardly to its normal.position. Downward movement of the lifting element 33 is accompanied bythe downward movement of the cards C and the cards assume their originalpositions where their upper edges lie in the same horizontal plane. Ifit is desired to remove a holder I I and its cards C from the bor; IEthe cards are first removed from the holder and the strip 2Q is thensprung out of the slots i9 whereupon the holder I I may be bodilywithdrawn from the box Ill. Additional holders ii may be easily insertedin the box and secured in place by means of the strips 29.

Having described only a typical preferred form and application of myinvention, I- do not wish to be limited or restricted to thespeciodetaiis herein set forth, but wish to reserve to myself anyvariations or modifications that may appear 1. A unit for a card indexsystem comprisingv a holder having connected'front and back parts, a

plurality of cards in the holder having projectionsv at their oppositeends,l the lower edges of the projections of different cards being atdifferent ele-v vations, an element bodily shiftable vertically on theback part of the holder, and parts on the elementy cooperable with saidyedges to elevate the cards in the holder.

53.` A unit for a ling system comprising, a plurality of sheets, aholder removably containing thesheets in a pack, the sheets havingend-parts presenting shoulders, the cards of the pack being related sothat their shoulders are in a stepped `and means bodily slidablevertically 011 the holder and cooperable with said shoulders to raisethe sheets in the holder to stepped elevated positions.

. B. A unit for a filing system comprising a pack of individual sheets,a holder for the pack including a b-ack against which the pack may rest,laterally projecting tabs on the sheets, the sheets being arranged inthe pack so that lthe lower edges of their tabs are in stepped series,and an element shiftable on said back and cooperable withthe said edgesofthe tabs to lift the sheets to positions where their upper edgesare`in a stepped series. Y v

4. A unit for a filing system comprising a pack of cards, laterallyprojecting tabs on thecards, the lower edges of the tabs being atdifferent elevations, a holder removably holding the cards with theirupper edges in substantially 'the same plane and with the lower edges oftheir tabs in stepped relation,v an element shiftable vertically on theholder, and hooks on the element cooperable with the said lower edges ofthe tabs `during upward movement of the elementto elevate the cards topositions where` their upper edges rare in stepped relation. Y

' 5. A unit fora filing system comprising a .pack

of cards, laterally projecting tabson the cards, the lower edges of thetabs' being at different elevations, a holder removably holding thecards with their upper edges insubstantially the same plane and with thelower edges of their tabs in stepped relation, an element shiftablevertically on the holder and cooperable with the klower edges of thetabs during its upward movementto elevate the ycards to positions wherethey are in stepped relation, and releasable means for holding theelement in thevposition where the cards are elevated. f

6. A unit for a ling system comprising a holder including a back member,a plurality of cards removably arranged-inl the holder, laterallsTprojecting tabs on the cards, the lower edges of the tabs of the cardsbeing in stepped relation, an element shiftable vertically on the backmember, parts on the element cooperable with the lower edges of the tabsduring upward movement of the element to elevate the cards and freelysupport them in stepped relation, and a latch part on the elementcooperable with the back member to hold the element and cards elevated.

'7. In a filing system of the character described, Y

a pack of sheet elements, said pack comprising sub-groups eachcomprising a plurality of elements, laterally projecting tabs on theelements,v

different sub-groups being in stepped relation, a holder for the pack,and lifting and supporting means on the holder including a manuallymovablek member having parts cooperable with the said lower edges toraise the sub-groups to assume positions in stepped relation, andreleasable means for positively holding said member in the positionwhere the sub-groups are in stepped relation.

8. A device of the character described including, a container, aplurality of holders in the container each including a front member anda back member, and means hingedly connecting thelower edges of themembers, a pack of cards removably positioned in each holder, lateralprojections on the cards, the lower edges of the projections of eachpack being in stepped relation, a lifting element shiftablevertically onthe back member of each holder, and parts on the elements cooperablewith the lower edges of the projectionsl to raise the cards so that thecards of the respective packs are in stepped relation.

9; A device of the character described including, a container, aplurality of holders in the container each including a front member anda back member, and means hingedly connecting the lower edges of themembers, a pack of cards removably positioned -in each holder, lateralprojections on the cards, the lower edges of the procontainer eachincluding a front member and a back member, and means hingedlyconnecting the lower edges of the members, a pack of cards removablypositioned in each holder, lateral projections on the cards, the loweredges of the projections of each pack being in stepped relation, alifting elementshiftable vertically on the back member of each holder,identifying tabs on the liftingelements manually engageable to raise theelements,` and parts on'the elements cooperable with the lower edges ofthe projections to raise the cards so that the cards of the respectivepacks are in stepped relation.

l1. A device of the character described including, a container, aplurality of holders in the conf tainer each including a front memberand a back member, and means hingedly connecting the lower edges of themembers, a pack of cards removably positioned in each holder, lateralprojections on the cards, the lower edges of the projections of eachpack being in stepped relation; a lifting element shiftable verticallyon the back member of each holder, means guiding the elements forsubstantially vertical movement on the back members, and parts on theelements cooperable with the lower edges of the projections to raise thecards so that the cards of the respective packs are in stepped relation.

12. A device of the character described including, a box having a bottomand sides, guides on the sides adjacent the lines of joinder of thesides and bottom, holders in the box, packs of cards in the holderslocated through their cooperation with the guides when in their normalpositions in the holders, and means on the holders for raising the cardsso located to make their upper portions plainly visible.

13. A unit for a filing system comprising a holder including a backmember, a plurality of cards removably arranged in the holder, laterallyprojecting tabs on the cards, the lower edges of the tabs of the cardsbeing in stepped relation, an element shiftable vertically on the backmember, parts on the element cooperable with the lower edges of the tabsduring upward movement of the element to elevate the cards and freelysupport them in stepped relation, means guiding the lifting element formovement on the back member and operable to limit upward movement of theelement, and a clip on the lifting element cooperable with the upperedge of the back member to releasably hold the element in the raisedposition.

14. A unit for a filing system comprising a holder including a backmember, a plurality of cards removably arranged in the holder, laterallyprojecting tabs on the cards, the lower edges of the tabs of the cardsbeing in stepped relation, an element shiftable vertically on the backmember, parts on the element cooperable with the lower edges of the tabsduring upward movement of the element to elevate the cards and freelysupport them in stepped relation, identifying tabs on the upper edges ofthe cards, the tabs of adjacent `cards being in offset relation, meansguiding the lifting element for movement on the back member and operableto limit upward movement of the element, and a clip on the liftingelement cooperable with the upper edge of the back member to releasablyhold the element in the raised position.

HARRY A. WARDY.

